Neisseria Meningitidis is
a bacteria that is best known for its role in endemic
bacterial meningitis. N. Meningitidis is
described as a gram-negative diplococci. The fact
that this bacteria is gram negative means that there is
very little or no peptidoglycan in the cell wall.
The word diplococci is describing the appearance of
N. Meningitidis. This means that two of the
spherically shaped bacteria push up against each other.
The side where they meet up becomes flat so each individual
will look slightly oblong. The picture to the
right shows the shape of the bacteria.
Neisseria Meningitidis is non motile and is
transferred among people via direct contact with bodily
fluids in which the bacteria has inhabited. This
bacteria has also been found to be oxidase positive
which means it contains the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase
and is capable of using oxygen for energy via an
electron transfer chain. Since N. Meningitidis
is oxidase positive it means it is aerobic.
The fact that N. Meningitidis
is known for its role in bacterial meningitis it is
known as a pathogen. This bacteria lives in the mucous
membranes of humans as a parasite. It has
been responsible for many epidemics across the world and
there have been many deaths associated with these
This is a photo of N. Meningitidis grown on an
agar plate in a laboratory setting.